30 TRAVELS IN 
bers are regarded with an eye of jealoufy, and their growing 
wealth with that of avarice. It is calculated that not fewer 
than one hundred thoufand Chinefe refide within the territories 
of the Dutch Eaft India Company in this ifland, on each of 
whom it was propofed to lay a capitation tax of five rix-dollars; 
which, impolitic as it may appear, is fcIU better than to put 
them to death in cold blood as they did, on the mofl: frivolous 
pretext, about the middle of the laft century, to the amount of 
many thoufand fouls. Ten thoufand Chinefe, tranfpcrted to 
the Cape of Good Hope, would prove a more valuable gold 
mine to the colony, than thofe which are fuppofed to exift ; 
but which moft probably exift only in the imaginations of the 
fettlers. 
It is not, however, in the light of a fettlement, capable of 
producing articles of valuable export to the mother country, on 
which the real importance of the Cape of Good Hope depends. 
Whatever its claims may be as a territorial polTefTion, or a com- 
mercial emporium, in the hands of other powers, England 
ought to confider it in no other view than as a point of fecurity 
or of annoyance to her pofTelTions in the Eaft Indies, and to her 
commerce with China. On this ground I {hall endeavour to 
ftate the folid advantages to be derived from the Cape, as de- 
pendent on the crown of England ; and the very ferlous confe- 
quences that may refult from its remaining in the hands of an 
enemy. 
The firft, as being the moft important confideration, will be 
the advantages it poflefles as a military ftation j after which, I 
ftiall 
